A series of major newspapers called the draw with Cape Verde the biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup and a disappointing opening match for Spain.
Before the 2026 World Cup kicked off, Spain was considered one of the top candidates for the championship. However, coach Luis de la Fuente’s team disappointed right in their opening match when they were held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in Atlanta.
This result immediately created a wave of reactions in the global media. Many newspapers used strong words to describe the performance of the European champions.
Germany’s Bild ran a sarcastic headline: “An archipelago humiliates Spain”. The daily newspaper stated that very few people believed Spain could stumble against a team making their World Cup debut like Cape Verde. Yet the unthinkable happened as the European representatives were powerless in finding a goal.
Meanwhile, L’Équipe called this “a serious setback”. The leading French newspaper assessed that Spain played lacklusterly and could not pierce the opponent’s defense even though Lamine Yamal was brought onto the pitch in the second half.
In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport expressed surprise with the headline: “Unbelievable, Spain fires blanks against Cape Verde”. This daily newspaper emphasized that Ferran Torres hit the crossbar, but that was one of the few clear chances Spain created.
The South American press also paid special attention to the results in Group H. Argentina’s Olé called it a “historic shock”. According to Olé, not many people could imagine a team possessing a quality star-studded lineup like Spain failing to defeat a World Cup newcomer.
ESPN Argentina shared the same view, describing this as the “biggest surprise of the 2026 World Cup”. The sports channel argued that Spain lacked sharpness and failed to show the image of a title contender.
In Brazil, Globo Esporte reserved praise for Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha. The newspaper assessed that this shot-stopper was the most important factor helping the African representatives keep a clean sheet against Spain’s pressure. If Spain caused disappointment, Cape Verde became the new phenomenon of the tournament.
Sky Sports emphasized that Cape Verde is a country with a population of less than 500,000 people but has created one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history. The British television channel praised the fighting spirit of the African representatives against an opponent rated superior in every aspect. Meanwhile, Portugal’s A Bola paid attention to goalkeeper Vozinha, who was voted player of the match. His excellent performance quickly created a strong attraction on social media after the final whistle.
One point against Spain not only holds historical significance for Cape Verde. This result also creates the first shock of the 2026 World Cup and makes the race in Group H much more unpredictable.
